New ISO Leadership to Expand Membership, Improve Show

Author: Paul Barnwell

The International Student Organization (ISO) elected Namik Kirlic '05 to serve as president of the group for the 2002-03 school year. Amine Bouchentouf '03 and Kiddo Kidolezi '04 were chosen as co-vice presidents at the elections, held on April 21.

The new administration's goals include increased communication and awareness between the ISO and the campus community, attracting more United States student participation and revisions to the Cultural Show.

"Very few students recognize that the ISO, in terms of membership, is the largest student-run organization at Middlebury," Bouchentouf said. "Secondly, there seems to be a widely held view that the ISO is strictly reserved for international students. This is a misconception that this administration will try to rectify."

According to the ISO Web site, the group's membership includes over 300 students from 80 countries. Every incoming international student automatically becomes a member. Kirlic said the ISO would try to increase membership by openly inviting American students to participate in shows, symposia and other functions next year.

In an effort to increase communication with the rest of the College community, last year's administration established an ISO-run book exchange program, Bouchentouf said. He said the service has been underused and encouraged students to visit the Web site, where users can buy, sell or trade books online with each other.

Both Kidolezi and Kirlic cited the need to expand the annual ISO Cultural Show as a main objective for the upcoming year. "In past years people have expected to see international students dress up in fancy clothes and dance around," Kidolezi said. "We hope to incorporate more than just international fashion, with elements like short skits, literature and poetry."

"It seemed like we were just puppets putting on show," Kirlic added. "I think all of us feel like we want to do more. Every country and culture has its own traditional skits and stories."

Kirlic also outlined preliminary plans for ISO community service work, in which group members would give back to the town of Middlebury. Formal arrangements have not been established, he said, speculating that the work would likely start out as individual efforts and eventually expand to group projects.

The ISO is in the midst of finalizing plans to provide international students who remain on campus for the summer with services, in addition to helping students arrive or return from abroad. "We will help with moving international students in, and also have a bunch of summer activities planned, including trips to Burlington," Kirlic said. "We're also reviewing applications for next year's social, symposium and Cultural Show committees."

Current ISO President Prashanth Srinivasan '02 said he expects the incoming Class of 2006 to continue to invigorate the group.

"Most of the first-years that arrive at the College become quite actively involved in helping the Board organize events. They often tend to participate in almost all of the events," Srinivasan explained. "It's definitely an advantage that international students automatically become members of the ISO."